Halite (Salt), Harris County, Texas
Halite, Salt (cube) Locality: Harris County, Texas from the Hockley Salt Dome on the Warren Ranch Chemical Formula: NaCl Crystal System: Cubic Specimen size: 1.75 in x 1.5 in x 1.5 in Specimen weight: 186 grams Shared by the Murphy Collection (AGMS) Additional Information: The United Salt Corporation mining operations at the Hockley Salt Dome have been in continuous production since 1931, with average salt production being 300 tons per day in the off-season, and as much as 900 tons per day during the high-demand wintertime. (The product is mainly used in animal-feed). The operations have been at the same depth within the mine since its origin (1540 feet), and there is enough salt left at that level to continue on for another 300 years. Various interpretations of seismic data in the area indicate the salt could reach 14,000 feet in depth. The dome has an irregular shape, approximately 2 1/2 miles by 2 miles wide.
Sulfides (Base Metal), Hockley Salt Dome, Harris County, Texas
Locality: Hockley Salt Dome, Harris County, Texas Mineralogy: Marcasite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena, acanthite and barite have been identified in the calcite and anhydrite zones in the cap rock of the Hockley Salt Dome (Kyle and Agee, 1988). Specimen size: quarter slice of 8 inch core, 4.75 in long x 3.25 in wide x 3.5 in deep Specimen weight: 1.1 kilograms Shared by the Murphy Collection (AGMS). Additional Information: In the polished section of this specimen alternating layers of calcite and anhydrite can be seen, the sulfide ore minerals concentrated in the anhydrite-rich zones.
Native Sulfur (S), with Calcite and Anhydrite, Harris County, Texas
Locality: Hockley Salt Dome, Warren Ranch, Harris County, Texas, Elemental Sulfur is common in Salt Domes of the Gulf Coast Chemical Formula: S Crystal Class: Orthorhombic, crystals are usually yellow to yellowish-brown blocky dipyramids, with thick tabular and disphenoidal crystals less common. Diameter of Core: 4 inches In the Jackson Collection (BEG). Additional Information: The assemblage of this sample (massive Anhydrite, Calcite and Sulfur) is common in the cap rocks of salt domes. This large sample was cored by Marathon Minerals in the early 1980's during their exploration for base metal sulfides (lead, zinc and silver).
Native Sulfur (S), with Calcite and Anhydrite, Harris County, Texas
Locality: Hockley Salt Dome, Warren Ranch, Harris County, Texas, Elemental Sulfur is common in Salt Domes of the Gulf Coast Chemical Formula: S Crystal Class: Orthorhombic, crystals are usually yellow to yellowish-brown blocky dipyramids, with thick tabular and disphenoidal crystals less common. Diameter of Core: 4 inches In the Jackson Collection (BEG). Additional Information: The assemblage of this sample (massive Anhydrite, Calcite and Sulfur) is common in the cap rocks of salt domes. This large sample was cored by Marathon Minerals in the early 1980's during their exploration for base metal sulfides (lead, zinc and silver).